Light fixture for suspended grid ceiling



Sepi. 19:1961 J. T. BIBB LIGHT FIXTURE FOR SUSPENDED GRID CEILING FiledJune 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joy/v 7.29/55,

INVENTOR.

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LIGHT FIXTURE FOR SUSPENDED GRID CEILING Filed June 2, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 2.

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JOHN [5/55, IN V EN TOR.

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Sept. 19, 1961 J. T. BIBB LIGHT FIXTURE FOR SUSPENDED GRID CEILING 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1958 INVENTOR. JOA A/ 71 5/58 r4 prroeA/a sUnited States PatentC LIGHT FIXTURE FOR SUSPENDED GRID CEILING John T.Bibb, La Canada, Califl, assignor to Tok-Products Co., Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 2, 1958, Ser. No. 739,42511 Claims. (Cl. 174-71) This invention relates to a suspended ceilingand more specifically to a light installation for such a ceiling.

It has heretofore been the practice to construct ceilings using varioustypes of grid installations wherein squares ing fixtures have presenteda difiicult' problem.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide novel means forinstalling lights in a suspended ceiling.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide such meanswhich are extremely economical and easily installed to avoid aflectingthe cost of installation of such a ceiling.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide wirewayspositioned above the ceiling which strengthen the ceiling structure aswell as shield the Wiring and preserve the standard modular size of thegridpattern.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide suitable meansby which a lighting fixture may be suspended from the ceiling at anypoint along one of the runners or at an intersection of runners andwhich also shields the wiring.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the followingdescription. a

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of ing embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is asection takenalong URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2. a

aseg'ment 'of ceil- FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 4 -4 ofFIG-1' URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a half of the wire" box.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form FIGURE 1 and comprisesspaced parallel runners 10 and 12, which are inverted T-shaped and maybe formed from extruded aluminum. These runners are interconnected byrunners such as 14 in this embodiment normal to runners 10 and 12 and ofsimilar construction and extended between runners 10 and 12. A clip 16connects runner 14 to a similar runner 18 on the other side of. runner12 through which the clip passes. The bottom:

line 2-2 of FIG- alongline 7-7 of no flanges of the T-shaped runnersform a support for ceiling forming members 20, in this instance anacoustical board. In this manner the complete ceiling may be formed assquares similar to 20 supported between runners 10 and 12 and spacedparallel runners such as 14.

The ceiling thus formed is suspended by suitable wires 22 from theframework of the building. The wires are suitably spaced over the areaof the ceiling and are at- V tached to the runners 10 and 12 by means ofclips 24 bolted to the runners. Such a ceiling is well known in the artand is rather briefly described to aid in understanding the descriptionof the lighting system with which this inventionis concerned.

A U-shaped channel '26 has on its underside a groove formed receivingthe upper edge of the inverted T-shaped runner 10. A depending flange 28is bolted to the runner by bolts 30. A cover 32 is provided at the upperend of channel 26 forming a housing for the electrical Wiring 34.

The cover 32 terminates at the split wire box 36. This box may bepositioned anywhere along the runner 10 even at the point ofintersection with runners 1 4 and38.

The box 36 is formed of two separate halves 40 and 42. The top of eachhalf has a pair of opposed cars 44 and 46 by means of which the twohalves are held to gether. The top 48 of the wire box thus formed isabove the open portion of U-shaped channel 26 so that the wires 34 passout of the channel 26 into the wire box 36. Each half 40 and 42 hasnotches such as 50, 52 and 54 cut therein on either side so that theywill fit flush against the runner 10, flange 28 and channel 26. The top32 terminates at and is flush with the box 36 at the junction of the twohalves. Each half at its lower extremity rests upon the ,inturnedflanges of the T-shaped runners. ,Each half also has formed therein atunnel such as 56 which terminates flush with the runner 10, flange 28and channel 26, being notched as are the side walls of; each half at 50,52 and 54. The tunnel thus formed on either side of the runner 10receives the cross runners 14 and 38 permitting the wire box to bestationed at an intersection of runners if desired.

The tunnels 56 also support the wires 34 in wire box 36 over which theyare trained after leaving channel 26. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 4the corners of the wire box 36 extend beyond the flanges of the runnerspermittirug wires 34 to pass below'the runners through spaces 58. Ateach corner the wire box 36 has an ear bit through which the wire box isbolted to the support box 62 for the light fixture 64. The wires 34 passinto box 62 through suitable openings therein aligned with openings 58.The light fixture is then wired as is Well known in the art. In thesedrawings the light fixture represents one-half of a fixture for afluorescent light although any suitable light fixture may be used.

T 0 add rigidity to thestructure a cross bolt 65 may be providedadjacent the underside or base of the Wire box 36. This bolt passesthrough a suitable bore in runner 10 similar to bore 66 in runner 12 andis suitably held from the exterior of the wire box halves.

A modification of the runner 10 and channel 26 may be utilized whereinthe two parts are extruded as an integral piece in place of bolting sametogether. i

In operation a U-shaped channel 26 is mounted upon above the wiresupporting member-or runner 26a. halves of'the wire-box are securedtogether-by rivets 74 a-runner' 10 wherever it'is desired to mount alight fixture.

A pair of wire box'halves 40'and-42 ai'epositioned begiven asimilardesignation with the addition o'f-the exponent a. It is apparentthatithis-embodimeut-difiersprimarily from that previously described-:inthe formation of the wire box .68. The box is formed of-complementaryhalves 70 and 72 which extend from within light box 62 1, which ha asuitable aperture therein to receive same, The

incomplementary ears 76. The box thus formed has a:gooseneck "7 8 atitsupper extremity'provided withsuitable grooves to'receive beads 80011.the .upper edge of runner 26a. Covers 32a-on eitherside of gooseneck 78fit snugly thereagainst so that wire 34a supported in channel 26a maypass through wire box 68 downwardly into light box 62a which isbolted-onto the lower flange of a runner 10a..

In this embodiment channel 26a has a series-of depending flanges82punched therefrom which abut one side or the upstanding legof runner10a and a series of loops 84 punched therefrom which support set screws86 which bear against the other sideeof .said leg-toclamp channel 7 26athereon. An enlarged bead 88 is formed at the extremity of theupstanding leg runner 10a to provide a more secure junction.

While, what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred-embodimentof thisinvention, it is readily ap-.

parent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention and such alterations andmodifications areintendedtg be included within the :scopeof the appendedclaims.

' Iclaim: v V a V p l. Ina ceiling of the t ype having flanged runnerssupporting removable ceiling formingmerribers the combination of: a wiresupporting member extending along one of said runner-s, a wire'boxextending from the flange of said runner to said wire supporting memberenclosing bination of: a wire supporting channel mounted on one'of-said'runners, ahollow-wire 'box slotted to snuglyfit said runner,said box extending from the flange of said runner upwardly and over aportion of the top of said channel and cover means enclosing theportions of said channel projecting outside said wire box, the lowerextremity of said box being open on the underside of said runner.

6. In a ceiling of the typehaving flanged runners supporting removableceiling forming members the combination of: a U-shaped wire supportingchannel having depending flanges receiving the upper portion of one ofsaid runners, the'-upper'-edges of said channel having outtwar'dlyprojecting beads formed thereon, a Wire box having grooves therein{adapted to receive said beads securing said box-on said channel, saidwire box extending downwardly from said channel and being open from theunderside of saidrunner. I 7 l 7. In a ceiling-of the type vhavingflanged runners supporting removable ceiling forming members thecombination of: a U -shaped wire supporting channel having dependingflanges receiving the upper portion of one of T said'runners, the upperedges'of said channel having outwardly projectingbeads'formed thereon, awire box hav-' inggrooves therein adaptedto receivesaid beads securingsaid box on said channel, said wire box extending down- 7 wardlyfromsaid channel and being open from the una wire received from saidwire supporting member to below said flange.

2. In a ceiling of the type having flanged runners'sup- 1 portingremovable ceiling'forming members the combination of: an enclosed Wiresupporting member mounted throne of said n1 nners; a hollow wire boxextending from the flange so-fsaid-runnerand enclosing a portion or saidwiresupporting member, means -.eommunicating the inderside of saidrunner and cover plates grooved to receive said. beads on said channeland abut either sideot said wire :boxto completely enclose a wire reevedthrough said channel and said Wire box so that said wire is :ac-.

cessiblebeneathsaid ceiling.

8. In a ceiling .ofthe type having flanged runners supporting'removableceiling forming members the combination of: a- U-s'haped wiresupportingchannel having depending flanges receiving the upper portion of one of 7said runners, the upper .edges of said channel having outwardlyprojecting beads formed thereon, a wire box having grooves thereinadapted-to receive said beads securing said boxojn said channel, saidwire box extending downwardly fromsaid channeland being open'frorn theunderside of said runner, and cover plates grooved to receive said beads'onsaid channel and abut either side'of said wire box to completelyenclose a wire reevedthrough :said channel and said wire box so thatsaid wire is accessible beneath said ceiling,-said wire-box being formedof complementary halves facilitating fabrication.

9. In a ceiling of thetype having flanged runners supporting removableceiling forming members the combination of: la -wire supporting memberhaving asubstan- V tially continuous opening along one side, clampingmeans on said supporting member along the edges of said opening, meansfor mounting said supporting member uponone of said runners, .a hollowwire box having tremityand having therother extremity accessible fromterior, of said wire box with the interior of thatportion... of the wiresupporting member enclosed within said box..

3,. In a ceiling .o f'the type having flangedrunners sup portingremovable ceiling forrning members the combination of: a wire supportingchannel-mounted on one of said runners, .a hollow wire box slottedtosnugly fit said runner, saidbo-x extending from the flange of saidrunnerjupwardly and cover apontion .of the topof said channel.' Y 7 4.In a ceilingof the 'type'having flanged runners supporting removableceiling forming :rnenrbersthe combination of: a wire supporting channelmounted on one of I said runners, a hollow wire box'slotted to snuglyfitsaid runner, said box'extendingirom the-flange of said runner upwardlyand over a portion'ofthe top of said chantnelland cover meansenclosing-the pontionsof'saidchannel projecting outsidesaid wire box.

5.: In a ceiling of the :type having .flang'ed supporting removableceilingforming members theecommeans for engaging said clamping means at'one exbelow the flanged runners and cover plates adapted'to engage'saidclamping means and abut either side of said box .to close off saidopening. i V I 10. In a ceiling of the type having flanged runnerssupporting removable ceiling forming panels the" corn-.1 bination of:alongitudinal wire, enclosing member having' a substantially continuousopening along one side,

15 .stantially acontinuous :op'ening :along Lone aside, clamping meansfor mounting said enclosing member upon one of said runners, a hollowwire box having attachment means for positioning said box incommunication with said substantially continuous opening at oneextremity of I said box and having-the other extremity accessible from 7below the flanged runners and cover plates adapted 'to bereceivedbysaid-enclosing member to close on said substantially-continuousopening at either side of said box.

1 1. {In a ceiling ofthe type having flanged runners supportingremovableceiling forming members the com.- bination of: va wiresupporting member having a sub.-

means on said supporting member along the edges of said opening, meansfor mounting said supporting member upon one of said runners, a hollowwire box having means for engaging said clamping means at one extremityand having the other extremity accessible from below the flanged runnersand cover plates adapted to engage said clamping means and abut eitherside of said box to close 011 said opening; a lighting fixture attachedto one of said runners on the opposite side thereof from said wiresupporting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LutzApr. 6, Rein Nov. 20, Murray Oct. 8, Richardson July 21, Ober Sept. 22,Wakefield Nov. 17, Tubbs May 28,

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nb, 3,001,001-

September 19, 1961 John B -ibb It is hereby certified that error appearsin the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as "corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 12, and in printed specification, lines-.3 and4, for each occurrence read Lek-Products C0.

the heading to the "Tab-Products C0,",

Signed'and sealed this 6th day of February 1962,

SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER I DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Ne.3,001,001 September 19, 1961 John T. B-ibb It is hereby certified thaterror appears in e-the above numbered patentrequiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as "corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 12, and in the heading to the printedspecification, lines.3 and 4, for "T0k-Products C0,", each occurrence,read Lek-Products C0.

Signed'and sealed this 6th day of February 196.2

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

